Escape from 'Safehaven': The case of Christiani & Nielsen's blacklisting in 1944

The case of the Danish construction company Christiani & Nielsen in the period 1941-1945 shows that Scandinavian companies were not just pawns in a bigger political game but were to a certain degree capable of promoting their own interests. This paper reveals that the political imperative is not only a matter of political risk but also of political opportunity. The history of Christiani & Nielsen offers a useful case of the political risks and fiscal opportunities faced by multinationals working in dictatorial settings. The paper concludes that, in a choice between a forestalling strategy and an absorption strategy, the latter offers a better way of managing such risks and to minimise exposure.